Human Flower Project

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Hibiscus for Harriet

For her birthday, one of the world’s oldest animals celebrates with floral cuisine.

November 15, 2005

Photo: Australia Zoo, via Reuters

Harriet, a Giant Galapagos Land Tortoise never could much kick up her heels, but she’s looking magnificent for 175 years old. Her keepers at a retirement home in northern Australia celebrated the great chelonian’s birthday Tuesday with a delicious and healthy dessert, a cake made of pink hibiscus (though the cake designer rather tastelessly shaped the cake as a tortoise. Would you give a friend a baked effigy of himself?).

Some say that Charles Darwin himself “collected” this creature; others say that’s poppycock. Does Harriet care? Darwin is dead and Darwinism is under attack; meanwhile, she plods on.

Australian conservationist Steve Irwin owns the zoo north of Brisbane where Harriet has lived for the past 17 years. He pronounced her fit as a bass fiddle. “I can’t see why she shouldn’t live till 200,” Irwin said.

One reason for her longevity may be excellent meals. We don’t vouch for any tortoise dieticians but did find these warnings and recommendations. According to one source, some tortoises thrive on certain flowers, among them dandelion, hollyhock, globe mallow, roses, geraniums, and—what we hope is Harriet’s favorite—hibiscus.

Buen provecho!